In flashbacks, we see some of the forces that shaped Fitz, including a scoundrel dad who pushes for a dirty campaign and sleeps with prostitutes.

Gov. Fitz is running a clean presidential campaign–but clean may not be enough to win. And his rift with his father is eating away at him. Candidate Fitz even gets drunk and gropes an unwilling Olivia in an elevator as she resists–and his wife walks in on them.

In the present, Fitz has lost some of his edge. He freezes just as he’s making big decisions. Can he really lead the Free World?

Back in the past, pushed by Fitz’s dad, Olivia assembles a team to find dirt. Gradually Fitz’s clean campaign embraces the kind of stuff Yoda warned about.

In the present, Fitz wants to do a live press conference. Olivia tries to talk him out of it, but comes over to his point of view–and even says he’ll take questions.

In the end, we see two live events side by side: Fitz’s comeback press conference in the present, and his breakthrough debate in the past. He takes the high road in the debate, openly discussing his fear not his courage; he does the same in the present, sharing his weakness. After the debate, his father mocks him, but Fitz stands up to him.

Fitz’s brain trust, pushed by Hollis, debates pulling some dirty tricks to guarantee the election. Olivia argues against it. His father then has an unexpected heart attack and dies before the election. Fitz cries. He’ll never be able to show the old man he was wrong.

We see matching scenes in the present: Edison proposes to Olivia. Fitz tells his wife he wants a divorce.

Back in the past, Cyrus tries to convince Olivia to join Hollis and the rest of Fitz’s brain trust to pull a dirty trick to win. “We are the people,” Cyrus says. In the end, her answer is yes. Hollis makes the call.

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.